By Chris Robinson
This past weekend I caught up with junior middleweight contender Deandre Latimore moments after Abner Mares' controversial majority decision victory over Joseph Agbeko at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The recent news surrounding the St. Louis native has been his newfound involvement in the camp of Floyd Mayweahter Jr. as a sparring partner as ‘Money’ prepares for his September 17th date against Victor Ortiz.
The 25-year old Latimore doesn’t shy away from what the opportunity means.
“That’s a big deal for me,” said Latimore. “It’s a pleasure to be in the camp with a guy like Floyd and it’s an honor to be in camp with a guy like Floyd. Victor is my boy but this is a business.”
Latimore’s last ring outing saw him capture an eight-round unanimous decision over Dennis Sharpe on April 16th in Mashantucket, Connecticut. That fight happened to be on the undercard of Ortiz’s thrilling victory over Andre Berto on HBO, a fight in which he and his Haitian-American foil both tasted the canvas twice while trading serious leather down the stretch of the bout.
Latimore considers Ortiz a good friend and loved his effort against Berto on that night.
“Oh it was a good fight. It was a fan favorite. The fight was nice,” Latimore continued.
Getting back to matters more present, Latimore was asked what it would be like to spar with Mayweather and was adamant that he wasn’t looking to show anyone in the gym up.
“I’m just going to go in there, get my work in, and get him ready,” stated Latimore. “I’m not looking to take anybody’s spot or trying to showcase anyone. I just want to go in and do what they are bringing me to do, which is getting him ready for the fight.”
After his victory over Sharpe, a win that saw his record rise to 22-3 with 17 knockouts, Latimore called for an HBO showdown with Paul Williams. He would instead see the opportunity go to Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara, who himself had struggled against Carlos Molina in a majority draw this past March.
Lara ended up belting Williams repeatedly at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City last month in a fight that practically everyone watching felt he should have won. Williams would walk away with the victory and while Latimore can sympathize with Lara, he understands it is part of the game.
“I saw it and I thought Lara won but when I fought [Cory] Spinks, nobody bitched and complained about that decision,” said Latimore of his April 2009 loss in a title attempt for the vacant IBF trinket. “So it is what it is and nobody complained about Lara getting his ass kicked by Molina. So Paul got a decision, he won, and that’s that.”
Latimore had been linked to unbeaten Armenian Vanes Martirosyan in recent weeks but it doesn’t appear as though the fight will come off. There is a wealth of talent at 154 pounds and while his future is uncertain, expect Latimore to be heavily in the mix one way or another.
“At this point right now I really don’t know what is going on. I’m just staying ready for whatever happens. I see everybody is scared to face me and I will fight anybody, anywhere, at any time. That’s just me.”